Would You?

So this is old news ladies, but I can't get it out of my mind. Apparently. George Clooney (who will forever live in my heart as sexy pediatrician Doug Ross on ER) wooed Amal Alamuddin with an email that said: "The world's hottest man should meet the hottest human rights lawyer."

So, in fact says the Mirror (go check it for yourselves, if you don't believe me).

With this tidbit of Hollywood gossip, ladies, we inaugurate the following running section:

WOULD YOU? 

As in, would you go out with a guy after he has sent you said email? Even if the guy used to be Doug Ross? And especially, since before emailing you this haiku of a come-on the guy dated a string of skanks (a wrestler, an exotic dancer.. who's counting?) ???

I would not. Screw him and his cute self-deprecating smile, that is clearly covering up the fact that he is Hollywoodly full of himself. Share your thoughts ladies!!

Jerusalem Day!!

Today my home city celebrates, making me wish the next month, until I'm back surrounded by its golden limestone, passes quicker. Despite the softness of its stone it is a hard city, difficult to live in for a multitude of reasons ranging from the hedonistic (the beach is an hour away!) to the historical (the weight of centuries of conflict is overwhelming) to the cultural (the strangle of the Orthodoxy), but I miss it. My family, my friends, and that golden light that is spread over it, like a translucent soft comforter, when the sun sets.

Apologies for the corniness factor, ladies, but it is the original, and the best, and the poetry of lyrics, really, is wonderful:

אך בבואי היום לשיר לך

ולך לקשור כתרים

קטונתי מצעיר בנייך

ומאחרון המשוררים.

כי שמך צורב את השפתיים

כנשיקת שרף

אם אשכחך ירושלים

אשר כולה זהב

In Jerusalem's honor lets look at some gold, why don't we, ladies?

And not just any gold. I adore rose gold, which a couple of years ago had a huge comeback, but I call dibs, because I have loved it forever, since childhood. Rose gold was the only gold readily available in the USSR. I suppose that had to do with the fact that it is a copper and gold alloy, cheaper because contaminated by another metal.

I like contamination.

What little jewelry I have from my grandmothers is rose gold, as is my wedding band, given to the husband when he first appeared on this planet by his great-grandmother.

Rose gold is earthier, warmer than its purer cousin. It is less metal, more flesh.

Which is also why I think it is more flattering..

Here's a selection, ladies...Mostly earrings, some necklaces, some rings..

DREAM:

Saks:

Todd Reed:

Todd Reed 2:

Quadrum (my favorite super high end jewelry store in MA):

Todd Pownell:

WISH:

Neiman:

Neiman:

Barneys:

Barneys:

WANT:

Eddie Borgo:

Jules Smith:

Barneys:

Minyasi:

Another punch is thrown in the mommy wars

I love almost everything about Emma Thompson (minus her political stance on boycotting Israel - a stance I can only explain as genteel antisemitism).


Recently she joined the fray of the judgy mommies by stating the following in the Daily Mail:

Emma Thompson has urged parents to take a year off work to spend more time with their children, saying: ‘You can’t be a great mum and keep working all the time.’
The actress recently put her Hollywood career on hold of 12 months to look after her children … but with a wealth estimated at about £30 million, she is better placed than most to be able to afford the time off.
The 55-year-old said: ‘I wanted to spend more time with my family. A year off was my birthday present to myself. I didn’t actually act or write. I was just a mum. I taught drama at my daughter’s school, cooked meals and had fun. I highly recommend others to do the same if they can afford it.’
The Love Actually actress – who has a 14-year-old daughter, Gaia, and a 26-year-old adopted son, Tindyebwa Agaba – said she had come to the conclusion that it wasn’t always possible to juggle parenthood and a career.
She said: ‘Sometimes in life you’ll have some things, at other times you will have other things. You don’t need it all at once, it’s not good for you. Motherhood is a full-time job. The only way I could have continued working would have been by delegating the running of the home to other people. I never wanted to do this as I find motherhood profoundly enjoyable.’

Thompson's statement is much more interesting than Angelina Jolie's likewise recent proclamation that Hollywood moms have it easy (no duh, Sherlock!).


Moreover, Thompson is right. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, partially because at a party at NK's house I got into discussing the concept of having it all with a woman who seemed to embody that impossibility. (she listened to my tirade without commenting). Yes, you cannot have it all. If you want a full-on, super career, you are bound to pass on the job (because it is a job) of raising children to someone else. There is nothing wrong with it - if you can have that choice, bless you. But even if privileged, you are making a conscious choice. Sheryl Sandberg made that choice - a fleet of nannies and various assistants are raising her kids. Good for her. I want to raise mine, at least most of the time.


And the more I think about it, biology isn't to blame. Men likewise miss out, but centuries of convention prevent them from feeling regret, or at least voicing it.

I'm BAAAACK!

Ladies,

I'm back from my blitz of London and Basel. I've actually been back for a few days, but between national holidays, sister-in-law birthday, and sick kids I have had a hard time getting back to my desk, which is still buried under the debris known as 'leaving husband home alone.'  My grossly messy house is, I swear, the only major downside of skipping town for a week.  Because much of the past week was so incandescently wonderful..

First of all a giant thankyou to JV for being a wonderful hostess and the bestest BFF, as girl-child would say. We had a great time in London and then a similarly great time in Basel. Secondly, it was great to see GDLR and have delicious vodka cocktails at noon, outdoors in the London sunshine (you better believe it New England!), near V&A. I haven't been that decadent in years, and I have to do it again soon! And finally, my Basel host, the Kunstmuseum, has been kindness itself. I could get used to that kind of life, ladies.

Some pithy observations:
The Swiss have square bathrooms. Not the rooms, but the toilets. Yes, they are squarish. No sharp edges to scrape your bum, no, but the overall shape is a square (oddly fitting given that my talk was on the author of the "Black Square"). Is that a testament to their national character?

The food in Switzerland is both outrageously expensive and terrible. The food in London is both cheaper and amazing. In general, ladies, if you come out with a line like my friend LP's "British food is horrendous" you are sadly dating yourself. British cookery has not been horrendous in over twenty years. Yes, my first visit to the UK over twenty years ago was marred by some grossly brown comestibles. But things have changed in the kingdom since. The island's chefs have overtaken much of the continent. And I have to say that at this point it is easier to find interesting, smart food in London than it is in Paris.

London is young. YOUNG. Everywhere you go you see people in their twenties and early thirties. And you see tons of babies. It is younger than New York, and frankly more fun. I'm in love, London. If not for the antisemitism, I'd be all over you.

So that's it, ladies. We are hopefully going back to our original posting schedule. Thank you for remembering me!

Anna

Hilarity Sunday

Ladies, a wee bit of fun for you from the UK. Enjoy!:

Cannes can do

Greetings from London, ladies, where it is sunny (who would have thunk it?) and warm - and not just because I'm with wonderful friends, no, warm for real. After a year of listening to JV bemoan the state of British weather and explain all imperial pursuits as perpetrated in the name of sunshine, I come here and find the most delightful weather ever. HA!

Meanwhile in Cannes, ladies, all kinds of celebs are dressing all pretty and preening for the cameras.
Lets look at them, one by one:

Naomi Watts in Marchesa:

You know how I feel about Marchesa, ladies. I find most of their stuff overwrought and not in a good way. It is about embellishment rather than structure, and  lot of embellishment to boot. This is really no different. It is a rather classic dress, nothing about it is particularly new. The color is lovely, and the dress impactful, but so uninteresting.  I like the idea of wearing a necklace backwards and that seems the only interesting thing here, except it clashes a bit with the darker bling on her bodice. Overall verdict - lovely and boring. See for yourselves:

Julianne Moore: in as much as I adore Julianne Moore (and I do! I love her ability to laugh at herself, her comedic timing AND her hardcore dramatic chops - she really is a total package. And I am all about her red hair) her style can be a little bitty itty off. She likes complicated and smart fashion - but it does not always flatter her. But it always makes for a good conversation. Like so:

I like each of the pieces (both by Louis Vuitton) but I don't like them together on her. The combination makes her look stockier around the waist than she is. But it is interesting, and not boring, and I love the red of her hair with the oxblood leather.

Zoe Saladana is another risky dresser. Her turn at Cannes, however, is rather sedate if very pretty:
The first is a Victoria Beckham dress:

The second is a Jason Wu gown, and I like it much less (still pretty, sure, but kinda very 90s with the burnt velvet and all, non?)

Rounding up this post is Ziyi Zhang in Rolland Haute Couture.. Not sure how I feel about it, but I admire it in principle... Thoughts, ladies?

More later ladies, London is calling.

Next week - reduced schedule

Ladies,
Due to impending travel I posting in the next week will be skimpy. My apologies!
Anna